Cold Weather Approved Beauty Essentials | Skincare, Makeup and Haircare

You know it’s reeeally cold out when snowflakes fall in Florida!

It is very rare for snow to make land in this part of the world, but last week, for the first time in 28 years, snow flurries were falling in northern Florida. I must admit I’m not entirely hating it, as there’s something about sweater weather and winter fashions that have me feeling all warm and cozy inside. But my skin and hair on the other hand, take a little more pleasing. One of the questions I’ve recently been frequently asked is suggestions for cold weather-approved beauty products that will address dryness and dehydration. I’ve curated my list of essentials, the star products that I’ve been relying heavily on and that have helped me brave the dropping temperatures. So grab a cup of tea and a snug blanket! Let’s talk Cold Weather Beauty Essentials: Skincare, Makeup and Haircare …

~ Skincare ~

The concerns in wintertime are dry, irritated and dehydrated skin. For this category I’ve selected products that hydrate and nourish for a more radiant, luminous complexion. You want skin that doesn’t feel dry and doesn’t itch, but that is readily equipped to take on and conquer the Ice Age!

1). Whamisa Green Tea and Kale Serum Toner – This Whamisa toner by Glow Recipe is as comforting and hydrating as it sounds. Glow Recipe, as seen on entrepreneurial TV show Shark Tank, is an expertly curated site for natural, harsh-free Korean Beauty. They recently collaborated with the Whamisa labs to create a skincare line inspired by the soothing and hydrating properties of green tea. The Whamisa by Glow Recipe Hybrid Toner and Serum instantly floods the skin with hydration, reducing inflammation and irritation, calming and defending the skin against environmental stressors. In short, a must-have this winter whether you live in Florida or at the North Pole!

2) Elemis Pro-Collagen Super Serum Elixir – I’m a big fan of the Pro-Collagen range by Elemis. This serum was a recent discovery, but something I see myself repurchasing over and over. It’s rich in marine and plant actives, working to delicately smooth and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Some key ingredients: anti-aging Tri-Peptides, African Birch Bark, Red Seaweed, Padina Pavonica, Hyaluronic Acid and Camellia Oil. I find this serum provides superior hydration, visibly plumping the skin for a more youthful and healthy-looking appearance. It can be used in the morning and at night. I like to alternate. I use it in the morning on those days where I plan to use a retinol at night or when I know I’ll be spending more time outside in the cold.

3) Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Day Cream – I’ve used this cream for a few years now. It has earned a permanent spot in my moisturizer rotation as it addresses every concern and helps with the anti-aging process. It’s formulated with Padina Pavonica, blended with Ginkgo Biloba, Rose and Mimosa to moisturize the skin and visibly improve the appearance of fine lines. It’s the kind of cream that you don’t have to second guess. You just apply it all over the face in the morning and let it work its magic. After each use, my skin looks plump and feels hydrated. I find that when I use this cream, my makeup applies easier, I spend less time blending and the results are far superior.

4) Darphin Paris Predermine Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Nighttime Cream – I adore Darphin Paris skincare and recently got the chance to try their Predermine Anti-Wrinkle and Firming Nighttime Cream. Rich in every sense of the word, this cream provides deep nourishment, boosts natural collagen, firms the skin and smooths wrinkles. It has a velvety, almost whipped consistency, that allows it to melt into the skin while revitalizing and replenishing. 84% of the total ingredients are natural in origin, one of which is Shea Butter. If your skin is sensitive to Shea Butter and prone to breakouts, I wouldn’t recommend this cream for you. But for my dry, dehydrated and mature skin, this is an excellent treat.

5) Darphin Vetiver Aromatic Care Facial Oil – One of my favorite discoveries of 2017 was the Darphin Vetiver Facial Oil. At the heart of this elixir, is a stress-relieving/detox essential oil blend of Vetiver, French Lavender, Geranium and Marjoram, meticulously selected to soothe and nourish the skin, while detoxing from feelings of stress. It also includes Moringa Oil (rich in vitamins) to deeply hydrate and Inca Inchi (rich in Omega 3 and 6) to balance and strengthen the skin’s barrier. I was surprised by how lightweight this oil fees onto the skin, leaving behind a soft silky finish. The scent is heavenly: very calming and spa-like with delicate herbal notes. I can’t help but ease up every time I use it. I like to massage it onto the face using my Jade Roller (read how here) and drift off to sleep in a cloud of indulgence, leaving all the worries and stresses of the day behind me.

6) By Terry Baume de Rose Lip Balm – There are lots of conflicted reviews on this lip treatment. I most certainly did not want to like this product as it’s THE most expensive lip balm I’ve ever tried! But it does work. It’s a bit of a wonder product, an SOS lip treatment, able to revive, heal and nourish dry, chapped lips. When it comes to extremely cold, frigid temperatures, this is THE only lip balm that I can rely on to provide comfort and sooth my lips.

7) L’Occitane Hand Cream – My hands always feel dry no matter the season, so it is imperative to have a good product that nourishes the skin and nails. L’Occitane hand creams are effective and deliver immediate results. They feel very lush and luxurious. Formulated without parabens and other harming chemicals, these creams hydrate and nourish without leaving a greasy residue. I’ve used them for years and will continue to repurchase.

~ Makeup ~

The requirements for makeup in the wintertime are few: it has to stay in place all day and not further dehydrate the skin while clinging onto dry patches. It should be effortless.

1). Burberry Fresh Glow Fluid Base – I’ve talked about this primer and reviewed it in great detail in The Best of Burberry Makeup post here. It’s a great base all year round and especially during frigid temperatures as it provides a boost of hydration.

2) La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation – This is the second winter I’ve been using this foundation. The best way to describe it is by saying it looks like your natural flawless second skin. If you’re curious to learn more, see swatches and a makeup look, I have a thorough review here.

3) Tatcha Luminous Skin Mist – I purchased this mist in the summer, it came in one of the Tatcha introductory sets available at Sephora. I really didn’t enjoy it at all in the hot and humid months. I found that it made my skin look sweaty and greasy, not a very attractive look. But these past few weeks, it’s been an absolute savior. I spray it all over the face before foundation and throughout the day for an extra shot of hydration.

4) Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen – This is basically a liquid eyeliner that comes with a very hefty price tag. It has two different ends, thus it can be extremely precise. The formula is what makes it so coveted: it stays in place all day just like a tattoo would, doesn’t budge or fade. Yet it’s easily removed with a cleansing oil or micellar water.  I previously mentioned it in my Luxury Makeup Worth the Splurge post here.

5) YSL The Shock Volumizing Mascara – I’ve been a fan of YSL mascaras for as long as I can remember. The hourglass-shaped brush allows the YSL-exclusive volumizing formula to grab hold of the lashes and coat each individual lash in one stroke and without clumping! It doesn’t smudge, feels so light on the lashes and adds such a beautiful dimension to the eyes.

6) YSL Tint-in-Oil – This is a lip tint suspended in a deeply hydrating blend of 4 oils: kernel oil, jojoba seed oil, coriander fruit oil and passiflora seed oil. It’s paraben-free and non-sticky on the lips. I got this when it first launched about two years ago and I always bring it out in the wintertime. The tint is sheer and it’s beautiful on its own, but it can also be worn over the lipstick of your choice.

Two of my favorite lip combos of the moment are: MAC Plumful (reviewed and swatched here) over Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil in Pale Mauve and Kat Von D in Liquid Lipstick in Lovecraft (the stick version reviewed and swatched here). But both of these leave my lips feeling parched at the end of the day. One solution I’ve found is to layer my YSL Tint-in-Oil on top.

~ Haircare ~

Moisturizing your hair is as vital as moisturizing your skin! The combination of cold weather and indoor heating coupled with wearing hats and steamy showers can wreak havoc on the hair. Here are the two products that have had the biggest impact on my hair this winter:

1). Christophe Robin Hydrating Leave-In Mist with Aloe Vera – Many of us today associate Aloe with calming sunburns after a day at the beach, but this incredible natural treasure offers unrivalled hydrating, moisturizing and soothing properties for the hair fiber. I have previously raved about this Aloe Vera hair mist here.

2) Oribe Gold Lust Nourishing Hair Oil – Simply put, this is liquid gold for the hair! It’s an oldie, but always a goodie I previously reviewed here.

If you have any products that you’re absolutely loving this time of the year, please do share. I’m always up for talking beauty and trying new things.

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